Local News

Rachel achieves PB in European Games

Susan Hampshire

High Peak swimmer Rachel Tweedie has recently returned from representing Great Britain at the INAS European Summer Games in Paris.

Out of the six swims, Rachel made it to every final and achieved a personal best in the 50 metre Freestyle.

Her mum Sarah said, “She sadly missed out on being medalled and was disappointed with this. However it was an amazing week and a brilliant experience for Rachel and her coaches Dan Pepper and her sister Jess.”

"Rachel had to overcome a number of difficulties and new challenges throughout the week, with the main one being swimming backstroke in an open air pool.

"It might sound quite straight forward, but when spatial awareness isn’t a strength you possess to begin with, it proved really difficult for her to adapt to this.''

Rachel has been chosen by UKSA, the British organisation which supports athletes with intellectual disability and promotes sporting opportunities in the UK and internationally, to swim in various distance freestyle and backstroke events.

The summer games took place over a week from July 14 to 22. The INAS organisation was established in The Netherlands in 1986 to enable athletes like Rachel to take part in elite sport.

Future competitions in 2018 for Rachel will include the National Partnership swimming championships for swimmers with an intellectual disability and the British Para National Swimming championships.

She also has her sights set on selection for the INAS global games set to take place next year in Brisbane, Australia